The Secretary of State in charge of Investment, Mr. Othman El Ferdaous, stated that the employment problem in Morocco can no longer tolerate any political or partisan outbidding, holding everyone responsible for addressing the issues of unemployment and job creation. The official expressed his regret over the loss of $100 billion to the Moroccan and Algerian economies due to the border closure. This came in his speech delivered at the Regional Forum for Employment and Training in the Oriental Region, held this Friday at the headquarters of the Wilaya of the Oriental Region, in the presence of the Wali of the Oriental Region, the President of the Regional Council, and a number of local officials.
In his intervention, the Secretary of State to the Minister of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy, in charge of Investment, addressed two main points. The first related to "youth unemployment, regionalization, and spatial justice," where Mr. El Ferdaous drew a comparison between Morocco and some Arab countries. Statistically, Morocco's unemployment situation (20%) is better than that of Tunisia and Egypt, where the unemployment rate reaches 35%.
In connection with employment, the Minister addressed the issue of women in the labor market, noting the annual decline of women in the workforce. He asked: "How does it make sense that females outperform males six times over in high school and university success rates, yet women's presence in the labor market remains weak?" He described this situation as "economic suicide."
The Minister proposed allocating childcare centers for working women and employees (for children from age 0 upwards) to encourage them to remain in the workforce. He also called for the integration of highly qualified women into the job market "to replace men with weak competencies."
Regarding Moroccan youth, the Minister called for the creation of "self-employment" (auto-entrepreneur) opportunities with reasonable, non-crippling banking conditions, as well as the search for solutions to provide jobs away from political and partisan outbidding.
In the second part of his intervention, the Minister anticipated a revival of the job market in the Oriental Region once the "Nador West Med" port is completed in 2021. He compared the port's future role to the current role of the Tangier Med port, highlighting the jobs and workforce opportunities it will provide for people from various Moroccan cities.
While reviewing the challenging economic situation in the Oriental Region and the high unemployment rate among young graduates, the Minister noted that closing the Moroccan borders with neighboring Algeria has cost the region's youth numerous opportunities. He cited World Bank figures indicating that the border closure deprives both countries' economies of $100 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The Minister refused to perpetuate the French colonial logic of a "useful and useless Morocco," noting that the Eastern region is brimming with agricultural, tourism, and renewable energy potential. Through intensified efforts between the government and local officials, the Minister stated, "the region can secure its rightful share of employment and investment."
